Stardock has returned to the gaming scene this year, bringing back The Political Machines, a fun US presidential sim game they’ve produced since 2004. This year, they’ve added a nice round of features, the main attraction being the primary race. You gain your party’s nomination through the state primary election against your rivals, just like the candidates.
If you’d like, you can skip the primaries, but who wants to go straight to the top? You also have access to a fun presidential debate this year, where players can give their opinions on various issues. You also get a mode with Political Action Cards to increase your campaign funds. Some cards can impact your opponents as well.
You can play the game against AI opponents or go online and play against your friends; this should be interesting. If you don’t like the existing candidates, you can create your own. The game is available for purchase on Steam or direct from Stardock for $19.99.
